I had a love-hate relationship with my 7D. I liked the image quality, for its time it was good for a crop sensor. What I didn't like was the focus inconsistency on birds at distances over about 20 yards with the 100-400. About a 10% hit rate. On larger animals and birds it was better but nowhere near the 6D and R6. I found the 7D and 100-400L to be an unhappy combination.
rscheffler wrote:
Well, it's not like the 7D's sensor is really wide dynamic range, either. In fact it and the RP are quite similar at about 9 stops at base ISO.
Yes, that's fair. I brought this up mainly to set expectations for Fred, presuming he is used to Sony. I like the RP.
rscheffler wrote:
I remember that review! It was an additional nudge to get me to buy the then new 16-35 (for better sharpness). And then the 16-35/2.8 II (mixed results with that one). And finally the 16-35/4 IS.
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Well, it's not like the 7D's sensor is really wide dynamic range, either. In fact it and the RP are quite similar at about 9 stops at base ISO. Going to the R will improve that to about 10.5 stops.
Here's the link to the three-way comparison on Photons to Photos.
Thanks for the link Ron. Wow, I remember well that my main complain about the 7D was the amount of read-noise and low DR. (Probably the reason it was hiding in the closet!)
As someone mentioned, nowadays, PureRaw mitigates the noise level but it looks like the "RP" is not that different than the 7D, especially when shooting at the 100-500 ISO range.
My view fred is - sell it all. I have the 24-70/2.8 and 100-400v1 and they work well on 7d/7dii/5dsr/R5, and just work well but I am in Canon camp. I particularly like the 24-70/2.8 for indoor camera shooting which I seldom do (not as good as v2, not as good as 28-70/f2 but good enough for my family - I only need sharp in the middle). The 100-400 v1 works good too but seeks when left with power on.
1) stick to one brand - sony or nikon or canon. Use the money for your go to brand. Adapting is a pain. It never quite works as native (eg 100-400 is a great lens but seeks adapted with power on). And you are a sony guy. Do you really want to deal with adapters and big lens whey you could just have smaller/lighter sony lens that you don't have to Adapt. 7d is/was a great camera - I have a 7dii sitting around with my a7r2 and 7d and 5dsr collecting dust. Wildlife and Landscape are quick events (dark before sunrise and animals moving) - you need to know the set up by muscle memory. Being in two camps is not conducive to this. Even different cameras in same brand is not great. And what do you bring when you go out - two bags of different systems with two different adapters and filter systems? ugh!
2) There are heaps of new canon lens (Rf100-400 for hiking, RF 15-30, RF 24-105....) that have great great features (light or good or no adapter). A foot in both camps will cause groin pain I don't use my 100-400 much because I like my rf100-400 better for hiking and my 200-400 better for spots where more weight is possible. I use EF lens mostly for careful landscape work with TS lens with the flip in adapter.
3) They are likely to just sit around because of the above.
Keep the ones you might use rarely adapted on Sony to avoid buying an expensive Sony lens you rarely use. Use the proceeds to buy a 200-600 sony if that exists.
If you sell both APS-C cameras & some lenses, then 5DS, 5DSR are good full frame DSLRs. I would personally look for 5DS because I take more shots of people, 5DSR is more for landscape/nature. 5D IV & 6D II (flip screen)are both better with wireless & touch screen, that's the lastest and last gen of both 5D and 6D with PDAF.
Anyways, just have fun, or sell them all for another Sony lens or camera :P
Scott Stoness wrote:
My view fred is - sell it all. I have the 24-70/2.8 and 100-400v1 and they work well on 7d/7dii/5dsr/R5, and just work well but I am in Canon camp. I particularly like the 24-70/2.8 for indoor camera shooting which I seldom do (not as good as v2, not as good as 28-70/f2 but good enough for my family - I only need sharp in the middle). The 100-400 v1 works good too but seeks when left with power on.
1) stick to one brand - sony or nikon or canon. Use the money for your go to brand. Adapting is a pain. It never quite works as native (eg 100-400 is a great lens but seeks adapted with power on). And you are a sony guy. Do you really want to deal with adapters and big lens whey you could just have smaller/lighter sony lens that you don't have to Adapt. 7d is/was a great camera - I have a 7dii sitting around with my a7r2 and 7d and 5dsr collecting dust. Wildlife and Landscape are quick events (dark before sunrise and animals moving) - you need to know the set up by muscle memory. Being in two camps is not conducive to this. Even different cameras in same brand is not great. And what do you bring when you go out - two bags of different systems with two different adapters and filter systems? ugh!
2) There are heaps of new canon lens (Rf100-400 for hiking, RF 15-30, RF 24-105....) that have great great features (light or good or no adapter). A foot in both camps will cause groin pain I don't use my 100-400 much because I like my rf100-400 better for hiking and my 200-400 better for spots where more weight is possible. I use EF lens mostly for careful landscape work with TS lens with the flip in adapter.
3) They are likely to just sit around because of the above.
Keep the ones you might use rarely adapted on Sony to avoid buying an expensive Sony lens you rarely use. Use the proceeds to buy a 200-600 sony if that exists.
[Noting that I don't follow my own advice }...Show more →
"Sell it all' is also one of my options currently. Thanks for your thoughts Scott!
I am waiting on the MC-11 adapter to see how these lenses behave on the Sony A7R3. Nowadays I'm mostly shooting with MF M-lenses on the Leica M10-R but I do still own the Sony and a few Sony lenses for my AF needs.
StevenSHH wrote:
If you sell both APS-C cameras & some lenses, then 5DS, 5DSR are good full frame DSLRs. I would personally look for 5DS because I take more shots of people, 5DSR is more for landscape/nature. 5D IV & 6D II (flip screen)are both better with wireless & touch screen, that's the lastest and last gen of both 5D and 6D with PDAF.
Anyways, just have fun, or sell them all for another Sony lens or camera :P
Hi Steven,
Thank you. Yes the Canon 5DS is also a great alternative because of the high MP, decent DR and lower price compared to the new mirrorless options. The lenses would also be native on it.
5Ds/R is also an old sensor with base ISO DR sitting between the 7D/RP and R.
BTW, just got an email from B&H that Canon instant savings of up to $400 will go live on Monday Oct. 3 on a variety of mirrorless gear. This includes $200 off the R body, at $1600 after instant savings. I don't think this is quite as low as it may have been in years past?
It's a good idea to test this one for centering. It's quite big and heavy at almost 1kg.
I'm quite happy with this copy. It's sharp at all FLs but the real test will be with a high MP body.
I never really shot with this one so it's brand new. I think I bought it for my daughter but she thought it was too big. :-)
It's the STM model, so newer plastic mount I guess.
I remember testing it and it's a good compact lens.
My version is the STM. I think it came with the Rebel SL1...again for my daughter but she moved to Sony a long time ago, so it just stayed in the closet...
Thanks for the info, I really appreciate it. It's amazing how much the "old days" gear is still capable. I may adapt them to Sony if AF is not iffy, just stay with the 7D or upgrade to a full frame like the RP or R6.
That review was a blast from the past! Yes it's amazing how we went from 2000 and the D30 mentioned in the review to 18mp in 2009, and that still isn't really obsolete. Still a lot of great older gear.
I was looking at 100 vs 800 on 18mp rebel one day, and 800 almost imperceptibly sharper. So it probably has some noise reduction applied in camera. The SL1 might have less iso 100 noise. As far as any DR, the SL2 apparently has the higher DR 24mp sensor allowing 3 stop shadow raising. DPAF in LV, probably better AF in general. Might be a great option for the 100-400. Very light, like the SL1, 100-400 v1 pretty light considering the FL on either. One member has been posting using SL1 & 400/5.6 recently.
Easy to test the 100-400 on high MP sensor, just use the 7D or SL1 !! 45mp ff pixel density, similar to A7r3 in crop. Did have to learn some things in DPP after going 18mp to get better sharpness.
The 50 STM is current you might try it before doing anything. Granted not a flight I use on crop, good for people 80mm ff equivalent
The 70-300 isn't that big really, but I use the 55-250 anymore. Really like the lens a lot, one of my most used. 88-400 ff equivalent at under a lb!!! Mine under $100 on B&S might have gone up recently though, still under $200 last I checked. Bargain. Then again if you already have the 70-300, that's probably not a bad lens
7D2 punches above its weight for a crop camera at high iso. Apparently available very cheap in your area. 5DsR seems like a bargain, I'd think you'd be better off blending exposures if you are picking up shadows 4-5 stops, enough to make DR an issue. But it's not something I use. FF better on DR anyway, R has higher DR 5D4 sensor more or less.
I would suggest stepping up just a bit if you are considering adapting these to the R mount Canons. I would say to go with the R over the RP, just because of the better ISO, better features and higher resolution for what isn't that much more money these days.
That being said, you can actually use those lenses on the APS-C R10 too, or even the M series like the M50, if you want to keep size of the gear down.
Thanks guys. I just received the MC-11 and updated it to the latest 1.41 version.
I will try them on my current Sony A7R3 to see how AF behaves. If it's not acceptable, I will consider either the R, R6 or R7.
rscheffler wrote:
5Ds/R is also an old sensor with base ISO DR sitting between the 7D/RP and R.
BTW, just got an email from B&H that Canon instant savings of up to $400 will go live on Monday Oct. 3 on a variety of mirrorless gear. This includes $200 off the R body, at $1600 after instant savings. I don't think this is quite as low as it may have been in years past?
Yes, the R will be $1,599 on Oct 3rd. There will be a lot of savings on RF lenses as well.
I just tested the EF 100-400L IS on the Sony A7R3 + MC-11 (fw 1.41) and AF is snappy. It seems faster than when using the Rebel SL1 but it hunts a bit when tracking a subject off-axis even in good light @400mm.
RoamingScott wrote:
I'd sell it all and buy whatever lens/body you want today. None of those items are standouts vs what's around today for the various systems.
The 5Ds/R suggestion is interesting, but would it really give you better results than any R Sony? I'd find that shocking.
You know, I do think I'd get better stuff on the 5DsR. 50mp is still one of the highest, and I think they might have a nice look. Even rebels can look good sooc. DR isn't everything. And it's not like the 5DsR doesn't have any, just not as much. But even then you can apparently get more DR blending multiple exposures.
5DsR is still a compelling landscape camera. High framerates and eye af not needed for landscapes
AmbientMike wrote:
You know, I do think I'd get better stuff on the 5DsR. 50mp is still one of the highest, and I think they might have a nice look. Even rebels can look good sooc. DR isn't everything. And it's not like the 5DsR doesn't have any, just not as much. But even then you can apparently get more DR blending multiple exposures.
5DsR is still a compelling landscape camera. High framerates and eye af not needed for landscapes
Agreed. The 5DsR still has maybe the highest acutance I have seen from a full frame camera.
It's true I have no experience with the latest high-res Sony or Nikon bodies, but I think there is a reason this camera is still viable today (assuming you are not using it for action):
So, I tested the EF 100-400L IS with the MC-11 adapter and Sony A7R3.
For some reason, if the focusing point is away from center, the lens will hunt above 300mm. This does not happen with the 7D or SL1. However at center, tracking is very accurate and snappy even at 400mm.
It's intriguing that EyeAF (phase detect) works perfectly at 400mm even if the subject's eye is away from center. It's accurate as well.
Here are a few samples from my kids using EyeAF.
I thought about selling the 7D but the prices are so low ($200-250), I might as well just keep it. It works great with the 100-400L IS and other Canon lenses I have at the moment.
I don't use my 100-400 much because I like my rf100-400 better for hiking and my 200-400 better for spots where more weight is possible. I use EF lens mostly for careful landscape work with TS lens with the flip in adapter. 
